When I considered the recent conversations I had with some of our clients, I was surprised by how many of them are actively looking for suggestions on how to increase productivity. They can generate the models and drawings needed for their projects, and they can do so to a high standard, but they constantly have the same nagging feeling that there must be a better, quicker, or easier approach.
Scheduled or bespoke training
So, what do you do when your design team has
received training on the software and is clearly able to use it to generate the
work, but it doesn't seem to be working as efficiently as it should be and some
tasks are taking too long?
Symetri offers training on Autodesk software, from a basic Essentials course to more advanced topics. However, sometimes
more training isn’t the solution. It gets harder to select the correct training
course as you go up to more advanced topics At an advanced level, the topics
themselves seem to increase exponentially – and no training course can accommodate
every topic – especially not in the amount of detail required.
My first piece of advice is to simply pick
up the ‘phone and give us a call on 0345 370 1444. You can ask to speak with one of our consultants if you need to
get in touch with a professional for the software you are using, whether it be AutoCAD, Civil 3D, Revit or something else. The majority of consultants share a similar
fundamental character; they enjoy solving problems and find enormous delight in
doing so. It benefits both parties when we talk to customers who are having
issues because we gain insight and obtain knowledge that we can apply to assist
other customers.
If a solution is delayed, we'll present you
with a few alternatives. A Workshop may be the best solution if the problem is a
technical workflow issue. Unlike training, where the Trainer is providing
specific instruction, a workshop is a meeting where all participants will
engage in intensive discussion and activity on a particular subject or project.
The Consultant will lead the workshop, share their expertise, and collaborate
with your teams to identify the ideal solution that matches your particular set
of circumstances. These sessions work best with small teams whose members are
already proficient with the technology in question. They can cover more than
one topic or technology and can be a cost-effective way to improve
productivity.
Following an initial conversation with you,
our consultants will frequently be able to determine whether implementing a
specific workflow or integrating technology solutions can resolve your problems.
All is not lost if they don't believe that any in-product or off-the-shelf solutions
are available. Most design applications offer some method of customisation. These
could range from simple macros to more complex development using a programming
interface, and for some issues, such as data transfer across various systems,
this might be the only viable solution.
DIY or not?
If customisation is the best solution for
your problem, you may either ask us to handle it for you or train your
employees to carry out the customisation. The benefit of the DIY method is that
your employees will learn how to customise the application, and they can use that
knowledge to address other problems down the road; the drawback to this is that
it diverts the staff-member from productive work and may not be the best use of
resources. If you decide to go with this option, think about letting one of
your more junior staff members to take this on. They are often keen to learn
and pick things up quickly, and the cost to the business is significantly lower
than if a senior designer were to take responsibility.
Many organisations who wish to continuously
increase productivity have found success offering training on tools such as Dynamo
for Revit or Civil 3D. Such classes can
frequently be tailored to provide guidance toward resolving your specific
issue.
A Step Up with
automation tools
While macros or tools such as Dynamo can offer solutions to many issues, they also have certain drawbacks. One of the problems is that they need maintenance over time, especially with changes in software versions and they frequently don’t get “finished” because there’s always a few bugs and they just don’t ever get fully tested.
While Symetri can also provide more robust bespoke
applications for you, written in code and integrated into the application, we
would rather direct you to our own technology suites. For instance, our plugin
programmes Naviate
for Revit and Civil 3D, provide a multitude
of time-saving productivity tools. These are continually being updated and may already
provide the answers you need. However, one of Naviate’s best features is the
community of users who drive the development of the technologies. Since most of
the tools in Naviate are based on user requests, if the solution you need is
not currently in our toolset, but adding it could also help other users, then
we will consider doing just that - and you won’t pay anything extra.
Can’t see the wood for the trees - exploring your processes
Sometimes, the root of your issues won’t be the technology, or how you are using it. It’s possible that productivity is lost due to poor team communication, the structure of the teams, or a disconnect between management and staff. Sometimes the problem may be a lack of consistency in your project management methods.
When everyone is busy on project work, it’s
difficult to take a step back and focus on why things aren’t working –
sometimes you just can’t see the wood for the trees.
Our consultants have first-hand knowledge
of the many diverse organisational structures, both effective and ineffective. We
can offer suggestions on how to re-structure your teams to get the most
productivity out of them and enhance teamwork. We can also help drive
consistency in delivery by providing guidance documentation and training that
will get everyone working the same way, improving quality of delivery and de-risking
your projects.
Knowledge Transfer
Regardless of the problems you encounter or the method you use to resolve them, you must make sure that the information you have gained will not be lost in the future. No business wants to spend in upskilling their employees, just to have them leave for new opportunities and take their knowledge with them. This situation can be somewhat mitigated by having a plan in place to enable information sharing within the company.
Below are some
simple tips to get the most from your investment in knowledge:
· Toolbox talks
Staff members might be
encouraged to share any expertise they have gained during these
knowledge-sharing events. They should be scheduled withing regular business hours
– this sends a message to staff that it is important to the business and is a part
of the business culture.
Mentoring
When new staff join,
assign them a mentor. Your expectations for the process should be explained to
the Mentor and Mentee. The Mentor should be willing to talk to the Mentee about
the culture of the organisation, how work is expected to be done there, and of
course how they may improve. For the Mentor to have time to perform these
tasks, you should create the appropriate environment.
Documentation
When improvements are made;
they should be documented. Staff will inevitably come and go, but if important
processes are documented, then others can look up the solutions to problems and
issues that were solved in the past. Important processes involving quality of
delivery or project risks should be formally captured in business process
documentation. For other solutions, perhaps relating to specific technology,
then an internal Wiki site might be a good way to go. Again, you need to allow
the time for staff to document the important things.
Lessons Learned
Every project should conclude with a Lessons Learned process. For small projects, this might be a quick ten-minute meeting. For large projects, it might take several hours. It offers a chance to talk about how the team performed on the project. Identify the areas where things went wrong, and work to make adjustments. Any disaster that occurred should be recorded for future projects to consider. Any new methods or processes that were tested and proved successful, should also be documented and re-used on future projects. Last by not least, make sure that everything is recorded, and that procedures are in place to ensure the information captured is used on future projects.
If you would like to discuss training, consultancy services or Symetri’s own technology, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us on info@symetri.co.uk or call us on 0345 370 1444.
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